Physical activity is excellent for your physical and mental health. Here are 10 good reasons to continue or start being active. Now that spring is here, it is often easier to get motivated.
- INCREASED ENERGY
The feeling of being "too tired" to exercise is often a false perception since the lack of exercise often makes us tired. All the studies prove it: physical training increases our energy and ability to recover after an effort. In short, there's nothing like it to give us a boost!
- WEIGHT CONTROL
Physical activity is an excellent way to maintain a healthy weight. The best way to do this is to combine cardiovascular and strength training exercises. Cardiovascular exercise significantly increases caloric expenditure during exercise and stimulates the metabolism in the following hours. The latter increases muscle mass, resulting in a permanent improvement in basal metabolic rate and, consequently, a higher caloric expenditure.
- PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular activity directly fights atherosclerosis, strengthens the heart muscle, and makes the blood more fluid, preventing clots. Exercise also protects us from obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- STRENGTHENING BONES
As a general rule, between 35 and 50, we lose 7 to 12% of our bone mass. Exercise helps prevent this loss. Weight-bearing activities (walking, running, tennis, in-line skating, etc.) and lifting activities (such as weights) are best for strengthening bones.
- DECREASE BACK PAIN
Statistics show that a lack of physical activity causes about 80% of chronic lower back pain. The pelvis is held in its usual position by the balanced tension between two groups of muscles: those of the abdomen and those of the lower back. Lack of exercise weakens the abdominal muscles, which over time causes the pelvis to shift forward. Over time, the lower back becomes more and more hollow, and chronic pain gradually sets in. Active people suffer from lower back pain 10 times less often than sedentary people.
- PROTECTION AGAINST CERTAIN CANCERS
A link has been established between physical exercise and cancer prevention for several years. Studies have shown that active people develop cancer less often than sedentary people. Research has shown that physical activity protects against colon cancer and can reduce the risk of breast, ovarian, endometrial, prostate and lung cancer.
- IMPROVED SLEEP
Being active promotes better sleep. Physical activity causes physical fatigue and mental relaxation, resulting in a night of more restful sleep. Cardiovascular exercises are the most effective in increasing the quality of deep, slow-wave sleep, the most important phase for physical recovery.
- STRESS REDUCTION
Physical activity is one of the best ways to relieve stress and reduce its damaging effects. A 30-minute cardiovascular workout reduces stress for two to four hours!
- PREVENTION OF DEPRESSION
Exercise provides general well-being. It has a positive effect on morale and psychological health, which helps to cope with hardship and keep depression at bay. Physical activity increases blood levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes relaxation and a good mood. It increases the release of endorphins and euphoric hormones related to morphine.
- INCREASED LONGEVITY
According to many scientific studies, 50% of the signs attributed to normal aging are caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Data shows that exercise substantially decreases the risk of early death from disease and significantly increases longevity.
